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Updated: May 9, 2026

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis
09:52

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis

Published on: March 9, 2018

Directed therapy for fungal infections: focus on aspergillosis

Rosemary A Barnes1

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.

The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
|July 11, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Directed antifungal therapy targets medications to patients needing them most, reducing empirical treatment. This approach uses biomarkers or imaging to detect early fungal infections, improving patient outcomes and limiting drug resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Empirical antifungal therapy is common but can lead to overuse and resistance.
  • Identifying patients most likely to benefit from antifungal treatment is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define and explore the concept of directed antifungal therapy.
  • To highlight methods for optimizing antifungal drug use.

Main Methods:

  • Review of pre-emptive therapy using biomarkers for early detection.
  • Discussion of diagnostically driven approaches utilizing radiological signs.

Main Results:

  • Directed therapy encompasses both pre-emptive and diagnostically driven strategies.
  • Improved drug targeting can reduce antifungal expenditure and resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Directed antifungal therapy offers a strategy to optimize treatment.
  • This approach has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Keywords:
PCRantigensdiagnostic drivenpre-emptive

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